Bailroad-switch



UNITED STATES T OFFICE.

J. S. SANSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROAD-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 27,009,` dated January 31, 1860.

.To all whom it may concern.'

' Be it known that I, J. S. Sanson, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improv-ed RailroacLSwitch, Designed More Especially for City Railroads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the saine, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which* Figure l, is a plan or top view of my invention. Fig. 2, a plan or top view of ditto, with the bridge and movable platform removed. Fig. 3, a transverse section ot' Fig. 1, taken in the line a, Fig. el, a transverse section of Fig. 2, taken in the line y, y.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The object of this invention is to obtain a simple self-acting switch for city railroads, one that may be actuated by the passage of the horse and ear over it so as to coincide, or be adjusted in line, with either the branch or main track as may be desired, no special adjustment being required in any case.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A, A, represent the rails of a main track and C, C, the rails of a branch track. At the junction of these two tracks a pit D, is sunk, said pit having a metal bar E, fitted at both ends in its upper part, the bars being iiush with the surface of the ground between the rails. These bars E, E, are both recessed at their centers as shown at a., a, to receive the ends of a metal stationary plate F, which I term a bridge, and which is secured to the bars E, by proper bolts or screws The bridge F, is of such a width as to allow plates G, of nearly equal width to be placed one at each side ot it. These plates G, G, however are not attached to the bars E, E, but are secured to arms c, c, which are connected to a central rod (I, near its ends. The plates G, G, arms c, c, and rod cl, may be of cast-iron and all east in one piece. The ends of the rod CZ, project suthciently beyond the arms c, c, to form ournals which are titted in the bars E, E, at their centers and are allowed to turn freely therein. Each plate G, has a tlanch e, projecting down from its outer edge. These anches extend the whole length of the plates G, G. On the upper edges of the plates G, G, at their outer edges there areiianches f, f, the anch f, of one plate G, corresponding with one of the rails A, of the main track, and the tlanch j", of the other plate corresponding with one of the rails C, of the branch track, as clearly shownin Fig. l. The iianches f, f, are of taper form and extend only a portion of the length ot' the plates. At each end of each bar E, there is a vertical ledge or tip g. These ledges or lips are in line with the outer edges of the plates G, G.

Iithin the pit D, there are placed two levers I-I, H. These levers are placed transversely in the pit D, and each lever has a weight 7L, at its inner end. The levers are of bent form and have their fulcra at z', as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The upper ends of the levers II, H, project over toward the center of the pit D, and direct-ly underneath the anches e, et the plates G, G, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The lanches F, F', of the plates G, G, form guides for the wheels of the car and direct the car on either of the tracks according as said lanches may be adjusted or raised and lowered. In colisequence of having the plates G, G, attached by arms c, c, to the rod d, said plates may be tilted and either plate G, with its laneh raised or depressed as may be desired. When it is required for a car to pass on the branch track C, the plate G, having the Hanch f', on it is raised by depressing the other plate G, which has the flanch f, on it, and the wheels will be guided on said branch track. IVhen it is required for the ear to remain on the main track the plate G, having the flanch f, is elevated by depressing the other plate G, which is provided with the flanch f. The plates G, may be depressed by any proper means. If one-horse cars be used, the horse may be driven over the plate to be forced down.

The horse may be attached to the ear in the usual way the thills being connected to the car by a bolt. If the switch does not require to be operated or is set right for an approaching car, the horse is allowed to pass over the bridge F, but if the switch requires to be operated thehorse by a slight pull of either rein is made to pass over either of the plates G as may be desired to move the switch in the proper position. It two-horse cars be used the switch, could not be thus operated as the plates are in line or in the paths of the horsesV and the horses pass over.

the plates, one over each, and neutralize their action. To a tvvo horse oar therefore levers may be attached one at each side, of the drivers platform, either of Which levers may be depressed at the right time by the driver in order to press down the proper plate G.

When a plate G, is depressed the lever H, on Which its flanoh e, bears hasrof Course its outer end depressed and the loaded inner end is elevated. These levers H, H, steady theplates G, G, in either position preventing 1 them from casually moving and also preventing them from slamming or descending tplo. rapidly'iinder. the Weight that depressies t em. l

Having thus desribed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The tilting plates G, G, provided with the flanches f, f, andarranged in relation With the loaded levers H, H, and the rails A, A, C, C, to operate as and for the purpose set forth.V

Y J. s. sANsoN.

Vitnesses REUBEN HAA'S, WILLIAM '-I. SMITT. 

